Means for registering printing plates



Jan. 4, 1938. .L. wbcLAYBouRN MEANS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATESFiled April 22, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J 0.5 n: J 2 m a Z y 2 w 3 /3 4 42 .3 3 2 Z a "w x m m 2 w M l 4 2 s b uni +4 i 6 ion w w M/mswroe:

L. W. C LAYBOUR N MEANS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES Jan. 4, 1938.

s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed April 22, 1955 I L. w. CLAYBOUR N 2,104,553 MEANSFOR REGISTERING PRINTING PLATES Filed April 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m4/2; m5 M //o 21;; 6 /zv,

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT 'OFFlCE MEANS Foa REGISTERING PRINTINGPLATES Leslie W. Claybourn, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to C. B..Cottrell- & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of DelawareApplication April 22, 1935, Serial No. 1"),673

21 Claims.

The term printing plate herein is to be understood as including printingplates for mounting on so-called bases, type high printing plates, andstones and other plates, sheets and blocks 9 on which matter to betransferred by impression is located.

The present invention is exemplified in connection with curved printingplates less than type high, and the support-for the printing plates isexemplified as a plate cylinder, although it is obvious that certainparts of the invention are also applicable to registering flat printingplates.

The present invention is an elaboration or carrying forward of theinvention shown,= described and claimed in my copending application onimprovements in Means for registering printing plates, Serial No. 16,646filed April 16, 1935, and exemplifies additional modifications of saidinvention.-

) It is the object of the present invention to provide novel means fordetermining the proper position of a printing plate on its support,further, to provide novel means for determining proper related positionsof printing plates on their support, for instance, in making up a formof printing plates; further, to provide novel means whereby printingplates for successive printings are positioned relatively to each otherso that the printing lines for printing different colors of amulti-color subject are properly related in the successive printings,for instance, on a multi-color printing press having a plurality ofplate cylinders for printing successive colors; and, further, to providenovel means adapting my improved device as an attachment for a printingpress whereby the printing plates may beproperly positioned on the platecylinder or cylinders.

The invention consists in novel means for atl taining these objects andin novel parts and arrangements of parts for obtaining the resultsdesired.

The invention consists further in providing novel means for supportingan indicator or indicators in manner for indicating the correct positionof the printing plate or plates; further, in providing novel means formounting an indicator frame; further, in providing novel means forpositioning the indicator frame in operative position and in retractedposition; further, in providing novel means for lateral movement of theindicator frame into co-relation with different portions-of the platesupport; further, in providing novel means whereby to register differentportions of a plate support with the indicating means; and, further, inproviding novel means whereby to register the indicating means withrelation to the plate support.

The invention consists, further, in mounting indicating means for platepositions on the frame of a printing press, means whereby to relate theplate position on the plate support of the printing press with theindicating means, and means whereby to relate the indicating means withthe plate support; further, to provide novel means 10 whereby toshiftably mount the indicator means on the frame of the printing press;further, to provide novel means for insuring parallelism between theindicating-means and the axis or rotation of the plate cylinder;and-further to provide novel means whereby to releasably mount plateregistering means on the frame of a printing press.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a plate cylinder of arotary printing press, only so 2!) much of the printing press beingshown as is necessary to illustrate the I invention. Such plate cylindermay be a single plate cylinder of a printing. press or one of a numberof plate cylinders, for instance, of a multi-color printing machine. Theprinting machine is assumed to contain the usual parts, features andfunctions of a machine of this character.

The term cylinder includes any cylinder or sector of a cylinder capableof supporting a curved printing plate or plates being registered.

While the invention is exemplified as applied to a plate cylinder as asupport for the printing plate or plates, it is, of course, obvious thatcertain parts of the invention are applicable to a fiat printing plateor plates mounted on a flat support or bed of a printing press.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my improved device, applied to a rotaryprinting press, partly 40 broken. away, the indicator frame being shownin operative position in full lines, and in retracted positions indotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2, and partly broken away.

Fig. 3a is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 3a-3a of Fig.2.

Fig. 3b is a cross sectional detail View taken on the line b -3b of Fig.3.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a rotary printing press, showing thedriving means for the cylinders. partly broken away. 86

Fig. 8 is a cross section of the same, taken in the plane of the line8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section of a detail of the same, taken in theplane of the line 9-9 of Fig, 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged rear elevation of the indicator frame and itsmounting, partly broken away.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the same,

taken in the plane of the line ll-ll of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a cross-section of the same, taken in the plane of the linel2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation, partly broken away, showing a modificationof the mounting means.

Fig. 14 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line |4l4 of Fig.13.

Fig. .15 is a section of the same, taken in the plane of the line I5-I5of Fig. 14; and, v

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional detail view of the same, taken in the planeof the line |6l6 of Fig. 14.

A support 2 lis exemplified as a cylindrical sup port for the printingplate 22, which is shown as a curved printing plate. (Figs. 2 and 5.)The printing plateis shown rectangular and is provided with suitableregister marks 23, which may be notches or incisions made on the bevelededges 24 of the printing plate, as exemplified in Letters Patent No.1,839,886, granted to meJanuary 5, 1932, for Means for registeringprinting plates, although the register marks may be of any suitablecharacter. i

The register marks on opposite edges are in spaced apart relation, theregister marks on.

edges at angles to each other being respectively in lines at rightangles to each other on the center lines of the key plate, and on' thecenter lines of the printing portions of other printing plates. Theprinting plates may be of different sizes andof different shapes, butthe register marks are coincidentally placed on all the printing platesgauged by their printing lines, so that printing portions of a pluralityof multi-color printing plates for color printing of a given sub- .Iectmay be registered in co-related positions.

The support maybe the usual plate cylinder of a printing press, aportion of the frame of the printing press being shown at 25. '(Figs. 1,2

. and 4.) The plate cylinder is provided with end trunnions 26,journaled eccentrically in bushings 21, rockable in usual bearings 28 ofthe frame. The bushings are rockable by any suitable or usual means forplacing the plate cylinder in on-impression or in off-impressionrelation to a; usual impression cylinder 29 of the printing press. Theplate. cylinder coacts with the impression cylinder, to form a printingcouple, as exemplified in Figs. 1 and 4. There may be a number of suchplate cylinders about the impression cylinder, as, for example, in amulti-color rotary printing machine,- and a number of the printingplates may be registered and secured in registered positions to eachcylinder.

The printing plate is arranged to be adjusted and secured in adjustedposition to the plate cylinder by suitable so-called register hooks 3|,(Figs. 2 and 5), respectively provided with a pivoted hook member 32pivoted to a body 33 arranged'to be adjusted and held lengthwise inundercut or dove-tailed grooves 34 in-the support, 5

all as more fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,486,323,granted me March 11, 1924, for Printing plate securing means. The hookmember is provided with an undercut beveled face arranged to impinge thebeveled edge of the printing plate, the printing plate being shifted andsecured firmly to its support by register hooks coacting with therespective bevel edges of the same.

The cylinder is provided with a scale-4| about its circumferenceconcentric with its axis. (Figs. 2, 3, 3b, 5 and 5a.) This scale inpractice has. very finely divided graduations for delicacy of ad-.justment. There are preferably two of these scales respectively at theends of the cylinder. 2 They are shown on bands, for instance, of steel,1 which are let into rabbets 42 at the inner ends of the usual bearers43 at the respective ends of .the cylinder. Graduations of therespective scales are accurately placed with relation to each other 2 sothat similar marks denoting equal values are coincidentally in the sameradial plane of the cylinder when the scale bands are secured to thecylinder, as by screws 44.

Across frame 45 extends lengthwise of the cyl- 3 inder and supports anindicator frame 46, which is provided with a linear indicator 41extending lengthwise of the cylinder and with a linear indicator 48extending about the cylinder. The cross frameis provided with a scale49, and the 3 indicator frame is provided with a linear indicator 50 inline with the linear indicator 48. The scale 49, similarly to the scale4|, has very finely divided graduations for delicacy of adjustment. Theindicatonframe is preferably arcuate about the cylinder, and ispreferably concentric with the cylinder when the latter is inoff-impression relation, which is preferably the position of the platecylinder when the printing plates are being registered thereon. I 4

Adjustment is provided between the cylinder and the linear indicatorextending lengthwise of the cylinder.. By mounting the indicator frameon the machine frame, this adjustment may be obtained by rotation of thecylinder. Adjustment 5 is also obtained between the linear indicator 41and the scales on the cylinder by adjustment of the cross member 5|ofthe cross frame on which the indicator frame is unted about thecylinder, so as to shift the indicator frame about the 5 cylinder intoregistry with given values on the emplified in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive,the cross frame comprises a head at each of its ends, arranged to bestationarily secured to the frame of the printing press. (Figs. 1, 2 and6).

Each of the bearings about the trunnions of the plate cylinder isprovided with an arcuate guide 56. (Figs. 1, 2 and- 6.) This arcuateguide is shown as a plate rigidly secured to the inner end face of thecap 51 of the bearing by bolts 58, this cap being fixed rigidly to thesolid part of the bearing by bolts 59. The arcuate guide has a guidingface for the head which is concentric plate cylinder, the parts beingreverse but being otherwise duplicates and being designated by the samereference numerals. One of the bolts 58 is shown countersunk within theguiding face of the arcuate guide in order to extend the range ofadjustment of the head thereon. The frame may be provided with suchguides at each of l the plate cylinders, which may remain in place, asthey are in such positions as not to interfere with the operation of theprinting press.

Each of the arcuate guides comprises parallel inner and outer side guidefaces 8|, 62, an outer arcuate guide face 83 and an inner guide face 64.(Fig. 7.) The body of the head 55 comprises an inner side guide face 65and an outer arcuate guide face 66. A plate 61 has an inner guide face68 and is fixed to the body of the headby bolts 69.

A clamping shoe II has a clamping face I2 which coacts within thearcuate guide face 64. (Figs. 6, 7,8 and 9.) The outer end of thisclamping shoe is received in an undercut innerrabbet 73, having theinner arcuate guide face 64 as one of the walls thereof. This shoe isarranged to be moved into and out of said rabbet for facility inremoving and replacing the head, and toward and from its coastingclamping face for clamping and unclamping the head to the guide. Theshoe is shiftable between lugs II, depending from the body of the head,and is held in release position.

by yieldable positioning parts, shown as balls I5 located in holiowbolts I6 threaded in the head, the balls being spring-pressed by springsII in the bolts into positioning holes I8 in the shoe.

A rockable stem 8| (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9), is rotatable in bearings 82,83 of the body of the head. It is provided with an eccentric 84 in aslot 85 in the shoe for moving the shoe into and out of its rabbet I3,and is provided with a flange 86 located under the shoe. The other. endof the rockable stem is threaded, as at 81. It has a nut 88 there about,which is endwise positioned, as by having an annular groove 89 in whichthe inner end of a screw 88 threaded in a bearing 9| is received.

The upper end of the stem has a nut 92 threaded thereby forms a tonguereceived in the groove, and the arcuate guide-face 68 on the head may becaused to coact with the arcuate guide-face 83 on the guide. The handle93 is then turned for shifting the shoe into the rabbet I3, and the nut88 is rotated for clamping the shoe upon the guideface 64 for clampingthe head to the arcuate guide. This clamping may be accomplished at anyposition of the head along the arcuate guide.

The head 55 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 11) is provided with a bracket I8 I whichhas a bearing I82. The cross member 5|, which is shown as a tube,extends between and is secured in said bearings. Each end of the tube isprovided with an enlarged bore I83 to form an annular. internal shoulderI84. A plug I85 is received in said enlarged bore against said shoulder,and a pin I88 ,is received through registering holes in the bearing I82and the walls of said bore and in said plug for rotatively locating saidtube with relation to said bearing and instanced as rigidly securing theparts together. One of said plugs may be provided with a hole I81 forease in assembling the parts.

A cap plate I88, secured to the bearing by screws I89, closes the outerend of each bearing.

The outer circumference of the cross member lengthwise of the crossmember is provided with a flattened face III, to which the scale 49 issecured as by means of screws II2. (Figs. 2, Sand 11.)

The indicator frame 46 is shiftably mounted on the cross member. (Figs.1, 2, 5, l1 and 12.) It is provided with a bearing II 3, which isshiftable lengthwise of the cross member, and is shown 'rotatablethereon. An additional hearing I I4 has annular tongue and grooveconnection II5 with the bearing I I3, and is shiftable therewithlengthwise of the cross member, and is arranged to be fixed to the crossmember at suitable positions therealong. The bearing H4 is provided witha spline H6 which slides along a groove H1 in the cross member forpreventing rotation of this bearing on the cross member. The inner faceof the bearing I I3 may be provided with an inner annular wiper H8.

The bearing I I4 is shown as comprising two segments hinged together bya hinge I I8 and arranged to be ,clamped about the cross member by aclamp screw H9 having a shoulder I28 on one of said segments andthreaded as at I2I into the other of said segments.

The clamp bearing is provided with notches I25. (Figs lO, l1 and 12.)

A latch I26 is pivoted at I21 to the indicator frame and has a tooth I28releasably received in any of the notches. It is operated by handle I29.A spring I38 in a hole I3I in 3. lug I32 on the indicator frame bearsupon the latch for normally pressing the tooth I28 into the notches I25.The latch positions the indicator frame in operative position close tothe supporting face of the support for the printing plate whenregistering the printing plate, and in spaced relation in differentpositions away from said supporting face for convenience in insertionand removal of printing plates between the indicator frame and thesupporting surface and for observation. The end of the latch is arrangedto engage a shoulder I33 on I the bearing II4 for limiting movement ofthe indicator frame toward the plate supporting surface to avoid damageto printing plates.

There is preferably just suificient space between the inner surface ofthe indicator frame and the supporting surface for the printing platewhen the indicator frameis in operative or normal position to allowadjustable shifting of the printing plate' on its supporting surface forregistry of the spaced "apart register marks on the printing plate withthe linear indicators on the indicator frame.

The printing plates may also be slipped under the indicator frame whenthe latter is in normal position, but it is preferred to raise theindicator frame when, initially placing the printing plates, althoughthe printing plates may be initially placed in approximate positions onthe plate I istry with any of the values on the scale,48 by movement ofthe indicator frame lengthwise of this scale. The indicator is shown \asa locating line on a transparent sheet I35, this line being exemplifiedas a scribe line on the sheet close to the scale 48. The sheet may be asheet of suitable preferably non-frangible flexible transparentsubstance, for instance, so-called pyralin, which can be made very thinand .the scribed line placed in close adjacency to said scale. Thissheet is secured to the end faces I 36 of the walls of the slot I34 byscrews I31.

The indicator frame 48 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 10) comprises an arm I4I whichextends about the cylinder andi. shown of arcuate form so that allportions thereof may be arranged close to the printing face of printingplate on the plate cylinder. For convenience, the arm may be separatefrom its bearing H3 and be secured in relation thereto by locating pinsI42 and bolts I43. (Figs. 5 and 11.) The arm is provided with viewingslots I44, through which the registering marks on the printing plate maybe observed. The linear indicator 48 is inline with said slots and inline with the linear indicator 50.

The linear indicator 48 maybe a scribed line on a sheet I45 of suitablepreferably non-frangible flexible transparent substance, similar to thetransparent sheet I35, and secured to the arcuate face I48 on the underside of the arm I4I, as by screws I41.

The indicator frame comprises laterally projecting arms IIiI I52, whichmay be arms formed separate from the arm I and fixed in rigid positionthereon by bolts I53. projecting arms (Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 10) areprovided with viewing slots I 54 in which sections of thelinearindicator 41 are located.- These sections of the linear indicatormayalso be scribe lines on similar suitable preferably nonefrangibleflexible transparent sheets I55, secured to the inner faces of saidlaterally projecting arms by screws I58. These scribe lines are in linewith each other at right angles to the scribe lines 48, 50, and arearranged to register with similar value marks on the scales 4I about theaxis of the cylinder.

For convenience in obtaining registry between the cylinder and thelinear indicator extending lengthwise of the cylinder, and for insuranceof registry between said linear indicator and the scales about thecylinder regardless of the lateral position of the indicator framelengthwise of the cylinder, a separate register bar I58 is provided, forregistering the rotative relation of the cylinder and the indicatingmeans. and 5a.)

The register bar is flxedto a collar I58, as by screws I50, fixing thebar to a flat face on the collar, and the collar is shiftable lengthwiseof the cross member, and is arranged to be clamped in adjusted positionsby means of a clamp screw I8I threaded in the collar and acted upon by ashoe I62 located in a slot I83 im the collar and bearing upon the crossmember. The shoe moves with the collar, as by being provided with endlugs I84. bearing upon the respective ends of the collar.

The register baris provided with a register mark I 85, or pointer, shownas the beveled-end These laterally- F s- 3a of the bar, which isarranged to register with values on the scale about the cylinder. Thereis preferably one of these register bars at each end of the cylinder soas to insure that the positioning of each end of the cross member iscorrect, so that the cross member is accurately parallel with the axisof rotation of the cylinder.

The register bar is shiftable lengthwise of the cylinder and itsregister mark or pointer registers the same radial plane of the cylinderregardless of its position lengthwise of the cylinder. The register markregisters the correct position of the linear indicator 41- regardless ofthe position of the indicator frame lengthwise of the cross member, andregardless of the position lengthwise of the cylinder at which aprinting plate is being registered. The cross frame is shiftable forregistering a printing plate in any position lengthwise of the cylinder.It may also be shifted to an extreme position at either end of thecylinder, in which position its linear indicator 41 is directly inregistry with one or the other of the scales at the respective ends ofthe cylinder.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 to 16 inelusive, similar parts aredesignated by similar but primed reference numerals. This modificationexemplifies a somewhat diflerent means for mounting the cross member.

In this modification a securing pad "I is secured to the inner face ofthe cap 51' of the bearing 28' at each end of the cylinder, as by meansof screws I12. Such securing Dads may be pro- .vided for each of theplatecylinders of the printing press and may remain permanently inplace.

A bracket I13 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) is secured to each of the pads, thebrackets and parts thereon at the respective ends of the cylinder beingoppositely formed, the parts being; however, desighated by similarreference numerals.

The bracket has a foot I14 which rests upon threaded connection I82 withthe pad for clamping the bracket to the-pad.

-The bolt I11 has a knob I83 fixed thereto. A helical spring I84 islocated in a hole I85 in the outer end of the bracket, between thebottom of said hole and said knob, for normally urging the boltoutwardly so as to withdraw its screw end into the hole I8I whenreleasing the bracket.

The bracket has a wing I88 (Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16) provided with anarcuate slot I88 concentric with the axis of the plate cylinder,preferably when in off-impression position. Locating plates I80, I8I,are at the-respective sides of the wing, slide faces being between saidplates and said wing. g

A stud I82 has a middle portion which fits accurately against oppositewalls of the slot, a threaded end I83 which extends through a hole I84in the plate I80, and a threaded end I85 which extends through a holeI86 in the plate of which are received in notches I88 in the plate I90for preventing turning oi.- the stud. A nut 20! is threaded over thethreaded end 195 for clamping the plates, the wing and the nutstogether, the middle portion of the stud being slightly shorter than thedepth of the slot.

Each end of the cross member is provided with a plug 205 having areduced inner end 206 forming an annular shoulder 201, and the end,

t i forming an annular shoulder 2 provided with locating pins H2. Thelocating pins are received in locating holes H3 in the plate I90, andthis plate is provided with a hole 2| 4 in which the reduced outer shankof the stub fits.

A bolt 215 is located in a hole M6 in the plate ml and is threaded in athreaded end hole 2 in the plug for clamping the plate [9| to the .outerend of the plug. The reduced outer end of the plug is of just sufiicientlength to provide a sliding fit between the plates I90, IM, and the wingW8 when the bolt M5 is in clamping position. This permits the respectiveends of the cross member to be adjustably positioned on the thecylinder.

" .as the dead line in the printing parlance.

This enables the respective ends of the cross member to be definitelylocated with relation to each other, and also enables the cross memberwith the parts, thereon, including the indicating means 'toibe shiftedbodily about the axis of the cylinder for accurate relation between thelinear indicator 4] extending "lengthwise of the cylinder and the scalesat the respective ends of the cylinder, and for accurate relationbetween ,the register bars 953 and the scales at the respective ends ofthe cylinder.

In operating this improvement to register the ,printing plates of a formon a printing cylinder of a rotary printing press, the printing platesare registered according to dimensions. given on a lay-out sheet, onwhich the desired positions of the register marks of the variousprinting plates are denoted at given distances from the zero points ofthe respective scales.

The zero points of the scales 4i about the cylinder are preferably in aline close to but free of the outer extremities of the sheet grippingends of the grippers on the impression cylinder when at closest approachto the plate cylinder in their revolutions. This line is known In thepresent improvement the distances for the respective printing platesabout the cylinder are. marked on the lay-out sheet as distances of theregister marks thereon from said deadline.

The zero point for the scale 49 is at the outside edge of the scale bandM, at the feed end 4 or operator's end of the plate cylinder, althoughthe notations on this scale begin at 2 (Fig. 11) as this isone of thelowest values employed in the exemplifying machine. The desiredposiitions of the printing plates arranged'lengthwise of the cylinderare marked on the lay-out sheet as distances of their register marksfrom such zero point corresponding with graduations on the scale 49. r

The scales may be in inches or other kinds or linear measurement. Theyare represented in inches, and in practice have very small subdivisionsfor accuracy in adjusting the positions of the printing plates.

The plate cylinder 2| is rotatable for registry of any value on itsscales 4| with the register marks or pointers I55 or with. the linearindicator 4'! as by means of an electric motor 22!, (Fig. 4), which maybe. a reversible electric motor for rotating the cylinder in oppositedirections for accuracy of such registry. This electric motor may be theusual driving motor for the printing press.

The electric motor has drive connection 222 with ashait 223; which has abevel pinion 224 rotating therewith, and which meshes with a bevelgear225 on a cross shaft journaled in the machine frame. A spur pinion226 rotates with the bevel gear and meshes with a spur gear 22'! on across shaft journaled in the machine frame. A spur pinion 228rotateswith the spur gear 221, and meshes with a spur gear 229 fixed tothe axis of the trunnion 230 of the impression cylinder 29 of theprinting press.

Each of the plate cylinders has a spur gear 23l fixed to its trunnion26, the gears 23! meshing with the gear 229, for rotating the impressioncylinder and the plate cylinders atequal surface speeds.

The electric motor is electrically controlled by suitable electricswitches having usual push buttons, as a push button 235 for'forwardrotation of the'cylinders, a push button 235 for reverse rotation of thecylinders, an inching push button 231 for rotation of the cylinders onlyduring manual pushing of the button for short steps of, rotation' of thecylinders, and a stop push button 258, for cessation of rotations of thecylinders.

An inker frame 239 having the inking rollers for the plate cylindersthereon, is shown in retracted position, leaving a space 248 for theoperator between it and the cylinders of the printing press, theoperator manipulating the registering means of thepresentexempliflcation while in this space.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention exemplified in Figs. 1 to12 inclusive, the arcuate' guides may remain secured to the bearings atthe respective ends of the various plate cylinders, as they'do notinterfere with the ordinary operation of the printing press. The crossframe,

preferably in assembled form, is placed across the plate cylinder onwhich for the moment it is desired to register printing plates.

. The shoes H are in withdrawn relation within the bodies of therespective heads, into which relations they have been placed by releaseof the device from the printing press when last registering printingplates thereon. The grooves .between the faces 55 and M on therespective headsare placed over the arcuate guides, and

ceive a row of the-printing plates in approximate registry with theposition of the linear indicator 41.

Before firmlyclamping the shoes in place,

. theheads of the respective ends of the cylinder are manually shiftedalong their arcuate guides for placing the linear indicator 41, or theregister marks or pointers of the register bars I53,-

or both, in registry with given values of the respective scales aboutthe cylinder, so as to in- 10- 'sure parallelism of the linear indicator41 with the axis of rotation of the cylinder.

Accurate adjustment between the register marks or pointers of theregister bars, or the linear indicator 41 on the indicator frame, withgiven values of the scales 4I about the cylinder noted on the lay-outsheet, may be obtained by rotation of the plate cylinder by manipulationof the usual control buttons of the printing press, as the forwardbutton 235, the inching button 231, the reverse button 236, and the stopthe desired value of the scales about the cylin- 35 tering and clampingof the printing plates, and

der designated on the lay-out sheet may be obtained by either or both ofsaid adjustments. When accurate adjustment has been obtained, thecylinder is allowed to be at rest during registhe heads are securelyclamped to the arcuate guides.

'The row of plates on the sector of the plate cylinder thus broughtunder the indicator frame 40 is registered during this adjusted relationof the parts, the indicator frame being moved along the cylinder topositions of the respective plates in the row determined by registry ofthe linear indicator 5!) with the given values on the-scale 5 49designated on the lay-out sheet.

In registering the printing plate it is shifted on the cylinder, as bymeans of the register hooks, so as to register its register marks 23accurately with the crossing linear indicators 41 and 48,

whereupon the printing plate is clamped in such positiorrby means of theregister hooks.

Aftei a given row of plateslengthwise of the cylinder has beenregistered, the cylinder .is 'again 'rotated for bringing the nextdesired sector of the cylinder into the field of the indicator '.frame,and the parts again accurately adjusted iaccording to the next valuedesignated on the lay-out sheet, whereupon the registry of the next rowof printing plates may proceed, subsequent rows of printingplates beingsimilarly registered.

The printing plates may be placed on their supports and may beproximately registered while the indicator frame is in raised position,the indicator frame-being placed in operative position for accurateregistry of the printing plates. During the latter position of theindicator frame, the transparent sheets thereon are close to theregister marks on the printing plate, and the linear indicators and theregister'marks on the print- 70 ing plates are viewed throughtheopenings or windows in the arms of the indicator frame. The

printing plates are adjusted under the indicator frame while the latteris in operative position,

Upon registry of all the printing plates on the clamping action on theshoes H and turning the handles 93 for placing the shoes out of range ofthe arcuate slides, whereupon the registry device is readily removedfrom the printing press.

When employing the modified form exemplified in Figs. 13 to 16inclusive, the respective bearings of the respective plate cylinders maybe provided with the pads "I, which may be left in position forsuccessive registries. The cross frame is positioned across the cylinderon which the printing plates are to be registered, the locating pins I15being,placed in the locating holes I16 and the clamp bolts I11 beingclamped for clamping the brackets to the frame of the machine.

The cylinder is rotated as hereinbefore described for bringing the valueof the scales about the cylinder designated on the lay-out sheet intoregistry with the markers or pointers ofthe register bars, or withthe'linear indicator 41 on the indicator frame.

If desired, this adjustment may be made for an approximation of registryand a more delicate registry may be obtained by releasing the clamp 7nuts 2M so as to permit shifting of the cross or such cross member maybe shifted bodily with the parts mounted thereon along the arcuate slotsI89 for registering of the pointers or marks on the register bars withthe scales 4| about the cylinder.

I claim: 1. In means for registering a printing plate on a printingplate supporting surface of a printing'press, the combination of a crossbar, releasable attaching means for releasably attaching the respectiveends of said cross bar, to the frame of the printing press so that saidcross bar extends cross-wise of said supporting surface, an indicatorframe pivoted bodily about the axis of said cross bar so as to overhangsaid supporting surface bracketwise and arranged to be oscillated bodilyon its pivot toward and from said supporting surface, said indicatorframe provided with an indicator for registering the printing plate, anda stop at said cross bar acting at the pivotal end of said indicatorframe to stop pivotal movement of said indicator frame toward saidsupporting surface whereby to position said indicator frame in operativeposition spaced substantially the thickness of the printing plate fromsaid printing plate supporting surface and thereby placing the indicatoron said. indicator frame in indicating relation with said printingplate.

2. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface of'a printing press, the combination of a cross bar,releasable attaching means for releasably attaching the respective endsof said cross bar to the frame of the printing press so that said crossbar extends crosswise of said supporting surface, an indicator framepivoted about the axis of said cross bar and arranged to be oscillatedon itspivot toward and from said supporting surface,

, said indicator frame provided with an indicator for registering theprinting plate, and a plurality cator frame at a plurality of positionstoward said supporting surface, one of said positions being a. positionof said indicator frame spaced substantially fromsaid supporting surfacefor hand manipulation under said indicator frame and another of saidpositions being the operative position of said indicator frame spacedsubstan- ,tially the thickness of the printing plate from said printingplate supporting surface to place the indicator on said indicator frame.in indicating relation with said printing plate.

3. In means for registering a printing plate on a movable printing platesupporting surface of a printing press having a scale at each' sidethereof moving therewith, the combination of a cross bar, releasableattaching means releasably attaching the respective ends of said crossbar to the frame of the printing press so that said crossbar extendscrosswise of said supporting surface, register bars extending from therespective ends of said cross bar, means for adjustment of therespective ends of said cross bar for registry ofsaid respectiveregister bars with said respective scales, an indicator frame pivotedbodily bracketwise about the axis of said cross bar and arranged to beswung bodily on its pivot toward and from said supporting surface, saidindicator frame provided with an indicator for registering the printingplate, and a stop at said cross bar acting at the pivotal end of saidindicator frame to stop pivotal movement of said indicator frame towardsaid supporting surface whereby to position said indicator frameinoperative position spaced substantially the thickness of the printingplate from said printing plate supporting surface and-thereby placingthe indi- ,cator on said indicator frame in indicating relation withsaid printing plate.

In means for registering a printing plate on the printing platesupporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled in the frame of aprinting press, the combination of a bracket at each end of saidcylinder, releasable attaching means for I releasably attaching saidbrackets to said frame able bodily on said cross bar lengthwise of saidcross bar, and a stop at said cross bar for said indicator frame toposition said indicator frame at its pivotal end with its indicator inindicating relation with said printing plate on said supporting surface.

5. In means for registering a printing plate on the printing platesupporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled in the frame of aprinting press, the combination of a bracket at each end of saidcylinder, releasable attaching means for releasably attaching saidbrackets to said frame at the respective endsof said cylinder, a crossbar extending lengthwise of said cylinder, attaching means 'betweenitsrespective ends and said respective brackets, said. attaching meansincluding adjusting-means to relatively adjust the respective ends ofsaid cross bar for parallel ism of said cross bar with the axis ofrotation of said cylinder, and an indicator frame provided I with anindicator pivoted bodily bracketwise on the axis of said cross bar andslidable bodily on said cross bar lengthwise of said crossbar forindicating relation with a printing plate on said supporting surface.

6. In means for registering a printing plate on.

the printing plate supporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled inthe frame of a printing press, the combination of an arcuate guide onsaid frame at each end of said cylinder; each of said arcuate guideshaving. end guide faces and opposed guide faces comprising inner andouter arcuate guide faces, a slide for each of said arcuate guideshaving end guide faces and a coacting guide face at substantial-rightangles thereto coacting respectively with saidflrst-named end guidefaces and one of said opposed guide faces, a rotatable stem journaled onsaid slide, a keeper with which said stem has operative connection tomove said keeper selectively into position to coact with the other ofsaid opposed guide faces and out of range with all said first-namedguide faces, and clamping means for axial movement of said stem wherebyto clamp said arcuate guides between said first-named coacting guideface and said keeper.

7. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the combination of a cross bar extending crosswise.-of said supporting surface, means for rotatively limiting said cross barwith relation to said supporting surface, a collar and an indicatorframe slidable on said cross bar lengthwise of said :cross bar, saidindicator frame pivoted about the axis of said cross bar so that itsoscillating end is movable toward and from" said supporting surface,means to limit pivotal movement between said collar and said cross bar,and a stop between said indicator frame and said collar to position saidindicator frame in indicating relation with a printing plate on saidsupportng surface.

8. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the combination of a cross bar extending crosswiseof said supporting surface, means for rotativcly limiting said cross barwith relation to said supporting surface, a collar and an indicatorframe slidable on said cross bar lengthwise of said cross bar, saidindicator frame pivoted about the axis of said cross bar so that itsoscillating end is movable toward and from said supporting surface,

-means to limit pivotal movement (between said collar and said crossbar,and stops between said indicator frame and said collar to position saidoscillating end of said indicator frame respectively distanced from saidsupporting surface and in indicating relation with a printing plate onsaid supporting surface.

9. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the com bination of a cross bar extending crosswiseof said supporting surface, means for rotatively limiting said cross barwith-relation to said supporting surface, a collar and an indicatorframe slidable on said cross bar lengthwise of said cross bar, saidindicator frame pivoted about .the axis of said cross bar so that itsoscillating end is movable toward and from said supporting surface,means to limit pivotal movement between said collar and said cross bar,and latching means between said indicator frame and said collar toposition said indicator frame in a plurality of angular relations tosaid supporting surface.

10.In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the combination of a cross bar extending crosswiseof supporting surface, means for rotatively posibit?) tioning said crossbar, a registering scale extending lengthwise of said cross bar, anindicator frame provided with a hub about said cross bar slidablelengthwise of said cross bar, said indicator frame pivoted about theaxis of said cross bar so as to oscillate said indicator framesubstantially perpendicularly to theplane of said supporting surface,and means for rotatively positioning said indicator frame on saidcross-bar so as to support said indicator frame in registering relationto said supporting surface, said last-' named means located solely atthe pivotal end of said indicator frame, and said indicator frameprovided with an indicator for a printing plate on said supportingsurface and an indicator related thereto on said hub arranged toregister with said scale.

11. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the combination of a cross bar extending crosswiseof said supporting surface, means for rotatively positioning said crossbar, a registering scale extending lengthwise on said cross bar, aregistering scale at, substantial right angles thereto along saidsupporting surface, an indicator frame provided with a hub about saidcross bar slidable lengthwise of said cross bar so as to move saidindicator frame. crosswise of said supporting surface, said indicatorframe pivoted about the axis of said cross bar so as to oscillate saidindicator frame substantially perpendicularly to the plane of saidsupporting surface, and means between said hub and said cross-bar solelyat the pivotal end of said indicator frame rotatively positioning saidindicator frame at registering distance from said supporting surface,and said indicator frame provided with indicators arranged to beregistered withsaid respective scales and for registry of a printingplate on said printing plate supporting surface therewith.

12. In means for registering a printing plate on a printing platesupporting surface, the combination of a cross bar extending crosswiseof said supporting surface above the plane of said supportingsurface, ascale extending along each side of said supporting surface atsubstantial right angles to said cross bar, a register bar on each endof said cross bar extending therefrom at an angle to the plane of saidsupporting surface and arranged to register with said respective scales,and an indicator frame provided with an indicator extending crosswise ofsaid supporting surface, said indicator frame having sliding connectionwith said cross bar so as tobe slidable lengthwise on said cross bar forregistry of said indicator with said scales and for registry of aprinting plate on said supporting surface with said indicator.

13. In means for registering a printing plate on the printing platesupporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled in a frame, thecombination of a crossbar extending crosswise of said supporting surfaceabove the plane of said supporting surface, means for supporting therespective ends of said cross bar on said frame, a cross scale extendinglengthwise along said cross bar, a side scale extending along each sideof said supporting surface at substantial right angles to said crossbar, a-register bar on each end of said cross bar extending therefrom atan angle to the plane of said supporting surface and arranged toregister with said respective side scales, an

indicator frame, crossing linear indicators there on extending adjacentto said supporting surface at right angles to said respective scales foron the printing plate supporting surface of a plate cylinder journaledin a framefthe combination of a cross bar extending crosswise of saidsupporting surface, supporting means on said frame for the respectiveends of said cross bar comprising adjusting means for adjusting saidcross bar into parallelism with the axis of rotation ofsaid cylinder, ascale extending along each side of said supporting surface atsubstantial right angles to said cross bar, a register bar on each endof said cross bar extending therefrom at an angle to the plane of saidsupporting surface and arranged to register with said respective scalesby adjustment of said adjusting means,

and an indicator frame provided with an indicator extending crosswise ofsaid supporting surface, said indicator frame having sliding connectionwith said cross bar so as to be slidable along said cross bar forregistry of said indicator with said scales and for registry of aprinting plate on said supporting surface with said indicator.

15. In means for registeringa printing plate on the printing platesupporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled in a frame, thecombination of a crossbar extending crosswise of said supportingsurface; a scale extending lengthwise thereof, a scale extending alongeach side of said supporting surface at substantial right angles to saidcross bar, means for adjusting the axis of said cross bar intoparallelism with the axis of said cylinder, and an indicator frameprovided with crossing linear-indicators extending at right angles tosaid respective scales, said indicator frame having sliding connectionwith said cross.

bar so as to be slidable alongsaid cross bar for registry of saidindicators with. said'respective scales and for registry of a: printingplate on said supporting surface with said indicators.

16. In means for registering a printing plate on the printing platesupporting surface of a plate cylinder journaled in a frame, thecombination of a cross bar extending crosswise of said supportingsurface, a scale extending lengthwise thereof, a scale extending alongeach side of said supporting surface at substantial right' angles tosaid cross bar, means for adjusting the axis of said cross bar intoparallelism with the axis of said cylinder, an indicator frame providedwith crossing linear indicators extending at right angles to saidrespective scales, said indicator frame having sliding connection withsaid cross bar so as to be slidable along said cross bar for registry,

of said indicators with said respective scales and for registry of aprinting plate on said supporting surface with said indicators, saidindicator frame pivoted about the axis of said cross bar for tilting thebodyof said indicator frame away from said supporting surface, andlatching means between said cross-bar and the pivoted end of saidindicator frame for holding said indicator frame in tilted position.

17. A cross frame, an indicator frame for a printing plate registeringmechanism, pivoted at one of its ends on the cross frame so as to bebodily osclllatable bracketwise about its pivotalaxis toward and fromthe printing plate'supporting surface of the printing plate support andadjustable bodily laterally on its pivotal axis into registeringpositions.

18. A cross frame, an indicator frame for a printing plate registeringmechanism, pivoted at one of its ends on the cross frame so as to bebodily oscillatable bracketwise about its pivotal axis toward and fromthe printing plate supporting surface of the printing plate support andadiustable bodily laterally on its pivotal axis into registeringpositions, and a stop at its pivotal end to limit its oscillation towardsaid supporting surface to spaced distance of substantially printingplate thickness from said supporting surface.

19. In combination, a cross frame, an indicator frame for a printingplate registering mechanism pivoted to the cross frame at one of itsends bracketwise so as to be bodily oscillatabie about its pivotal axistoward and from the printing plate supporting surface of the printingplate support and adjustable bodily on its pivotal axis into registeringpositions, and a plurality of angularly spaced stops between said axisand the pivotal end of said indicator frame respectively for holdingsaid indicator frame in substantially spaced relation from said surfacefor hand manipulation of the printing plate between said indicator frameand said support and for limiting oscillation of said indicator frametoward said supporting surface to spaced distance of substantiallyprinting plate thickness from said supporting surface for registry ofthe printing plate.

20. In positioning means for the indicator frame of a registeringdevice, the combination coacting with the other of said opposed guidefaces, a stem on said slide having endwise connection with said keeperand provided with means wherewith to move said keeper into and out ofrange of said first-named guide faces, and means acting on said stem todraw said keeper and said additional guide face toward one another forclamping said first-named opposed guide faces between the same.

21. In registering means, the combination of an indicator frame providedwith indicators arranged at substantial right angles to each other forregistry with scales extendingat substantial right angles to each otheralong margins of an article supporting surface of a support, meanswhereby to pivot said indicator frame at one of its ends on astationarily positioned axis and to slide said indicator frame laterallyparallel with said axis bracketwise crosswise of said surface, and meanssolely between said axis and the pivotal end of said indicator frameacting solely on the pivotal end of said indicator frame for supportingsaid indicator frame in spaced relation from said supporting-surface andso as to move laterally across the article on said surface.

' LESLIE W. CLAYBOURN.

